hidden vitamins

For most kids, today is their first day "back to school". The Hull Homeschool Academy also commences our Winter Semester after two fun-filled weeks of holiday activities and van-loads of company. Two very reluctant scholars dragged themselves out of bed at the unheard-of hour of 8 a.m., ladled cold cereal into their mouths, and propped themselves up on the couch to listen to the Book of Exodus on CD. This was followed by a reading from The Hittite Warrior (a historical novel from the era of the Book of Judges) accompanied by pencil-sketching by aforesaid scholars. We reviewed the book Blood Brothers (a biographical story of a Palestinian Christian working for peace in the Israel) and also where we left off in A Christian Family's Guide to the Middle East. Deftly changing the subject, we did a brief science experiment to demonstrate refracted light. From there, this stick-wielding schoolmarm doled out math and science assignments plus copious amounts of further reading. As Daughter #1 exclaimed vehemently as she perused the chalkboard: "Hmmm. We are DOING SCHOOL TODAY."
Oh yeah, just for fun we began the DVD Unwrapping the Pharaohs (How Egyptian Archaeology Confirms the Biblical Timeline). This hardcover book and bonus DVD, which was under the Christmas tree (thanks to the many educational catalogues that Mrs. Santa Claus thumbs through) will hopefully spark interest in the Egyptian Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Maybe, just maybe, we can manage a family trip there soon. (Did you know that they have a complete Egyptian temple on display there that one can walk through and touch? And that there is a door over which a Christian symbol is carved through which the earliest converts to Christianity entered when they went to worship there?)
Oh, I am always conniving. Maybe that terminology is a tad too strong. Would you call a mom who sneaks spinach in the soup or zucchini in the banana bread "conniving"? Any way to sneak in some learning around here is justifiable in my book.
I just remembered that I have some zucchini in the salad drawer. This mom will continue her subterfuge in the kitchen, much to her family's gastronomic satisfaction.